Aitkin County HFH found the dollars and coordinated the volunteer labor for Rian’s new home, a project the chapter completes on average once every two years—funds permitting, of course.

“If you take a look at Christy’s situation, she moved back to the United States in 2016 from the Middle East to escape an unhealthy marriage and, really, she started from scratch,” says Schwartz.

Habitat for Humanity, established in 1976 and now operating in more than 70 countries worldwide, partners with working, low-income families, who purchase their home through an interest-free mortgage with no down payment. All Habitat families are required to put at least 300 hours of “sweat equity,” or volunteer labor, into their home.

The organization’s motto has long been “a hand up, not a handout”—and that was the scenario for Rian. In just a year-and-a-half after arriving back in Minnesota, she obtained her GED and secured a full-time job.

“She really persevered,” notes Schwartz.

As happens elsewhere, Aitkin County HFH aims to give people like Rian the chance for a fresh start when life doesn’t go as planned—not only building homes, but operating A Brush With Kindness, a program that assists residents with minor repairs to their homes.

Tackling oak savanna restoration with live ‘mowing machines’

Hungry goats are bringing ecosystems back to life at Minnesota Valley NWR